Know Thyself

Intoxicated and heeding a god

Divine speech rolling off a mortal tongue

In the form of paradoxes most odd

And gnomic riddles, whispered, screamed or sung

Gnothi seauton recommends self-knowledge;

If one does not know what knowledge might be

Or has questioned the self, out on a ledge

This aphorism a grim scourge will be

If knowledge is justified true belief

And only selves can seek to know themselves

One can derive significant relief

From knowing oneself, rather than stark grief

We are dying animals who know it

We should have the courage now to show it